Aces need more movement in their motion

Even though his Indiana State basketball team defeated the University of Evansville on Saturday, Sycamores coach Greg Lansing called the Aces "the best motion team in the country."

That claim, however, only means something when Evansville runs its sets.

Senior Troy Taylor said the Aces (11-8, 4-3 Missouri Valley Conference) did too much standing around and not enough screening, cutting as well as working together in their 72-62 road loss to Indiana State.

"There were times we were just stagnant, and everyone would just watch the person with the ball," Taylor said. "We'll just have to watch film and correct every little mistake, because we've got to get out of this slump."

The loss marked Evansville's second in a row following the Aces' upset of then-ranked Wichita State, which went on to beat MVC-leading Creighton on Saturday. The Shockers' result, combined with Butler's buzzer-beating win over Gonzaga, helped Evansville's standing in the ratings percentage index remain in the top 100 at 99th.

The Aces' RPI will continue moving in the wrong direction, though, if something doesn't change soon within the offense. Evansville shot 28.6 percent in the second half against Indiana State, often heaving up desperation attempts over a suffocating Sycamores defense as the shot clock wound down.

"We have a day off (Sunday), but we as players are going to get in the gym and get shots up," Taylor said. "We're going to do things like that without the coaches. It's another way we can get better because we can't take any days off, especially this time of year."

Yes, this is it for the Aces' four seniors: Taylor, Colt Ryan, Ned Cox and Lewis Jones.

Visibly frustrated at times Saturday, Ryan scored 19 points to finish with fewer than 20 for the first time in five games.

"Obviously teams are going to show a lot of help to Colt, and I think he just continued to work hard," said UE coach Marty Simmons.

The performance went back to Evansville's exhibition win over the University of Southern Indiana when the Aces needed 33 points and 30-plus minutes from Ryan, their leading scorer in each of his four collegiate seasons. Even at that point, Simmons said, "I think that'll be who we are."

Simmons was right, so Indiana State followed a simple blueprint — if you contain Ryan, you contain the Evansville offense. Ryan attempted just two shots in the first half.

"(Ryan) just maintained that aggressiveness that he normally does," Simmons said. "We need more balance within our team offensively."